Vivien Leigh was an Oscar winning British movie star who struggled with mental illness.
She was born Vivian Mary Hartley on November 5, 1913, in Darjeeling, India. When she was six years old her parents took her to England so she could get a better education. After seeing her first play she decided she wanted to become an actress. Vivien attended drama school until 1932 when she quit to marry Herbert Leigh Holman, a London barrister. Their daughter Suzanne was born the following year. The stunning brunette started her career performing on the London stage. Then she got small parts in movies like Things Are Looking Up and A Yank At Oxford. While making Fire Over England in 1937 she began an affair with her married costar Laurence Olivier. They both divorced their spouses so they could be together. Vivien was one of dozens of actresses who auditioned for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in the 1939 epic Gone With The Wind. She got the part and won an Academy Award for her iconic performance. On August 31, 1940 she and Laurence were married in California. The couple often worked together on stage and costarred in the film That Hamilton Woman. Unfortunately they had a tumultuous relationship and Vivien, who was bi-sexual, had numerous affairs with men and women. Among her many lovers were Peter Finch and Ona Munson.
She was born Vivian Mary Hartley on November 5, 1913, in Darjeeling, India. When she was six years old her parents took her to England so she could get a better education. After seeing her first play she decided she wanted to become an actress. Vivien attended drama school until 1932 when she quit to marry Herbert Leigh Holman, a London barrister. Their daughter Suzanne was born the following year. The stunning brunette started her career performing on the London stage. Then she got small parts in movies like Things Are Looking Up and A Yank At Oxford. While making Fire Over England in 1937 she began an affair with her married costar Laurence Olivier. They both divorced their spouses so they could be together. Vivien was one of dozens of actresses who auditioned for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in the 1939 epic Gone With The Wind. She got the part and won an Academy Award for her iconic performance. On August 31, 1940 she and Laurence were married in California. The couple often worked together on stage and costarred in the film That Hamilton Woman. Unfortunately they had a tumultuous relationship and Vivien, who was bi-sexual, had numerous affairs with men and women. Among her many lovers were Peter Finch and Ona Munson.